From Seeds to Seedlings

I love gardening and been growing my own flowers from seeds. I've tried to grow seeds before without much success but his year my seedlings are growing really well and I ended up having to get a second little green house (free on my favourite website - Freecycle) to keep them all.

I have recently planted out my first lot of seeds from my green house into the garden. In the pots in the greenhouse are some Danish Flag, Black Flowering Poppies, Heirloom Poppies, Flemish Antique Poppies, Larkspur, Hollyhocks, Aquilgeia, Cornflower Black Ball and Cosmos Picotee. The poppies have grown really well so I am looking forward to seeing them and all my seedlings in flower.

My Rememberance Quilts in the making

Dying is something that not very many people like to think about let alone talk about. With having been so sick with asthma over the years and then having the Subarchnoid haemorrhage in December 2008 I have thought a lot about dying but more in terms of how I want my family to remember me. As I want to be cremated and I don't want a tombstone I have decided that they way I want my family to remember me is by having a hand sewn quilt that I have made especially for them. This means that I have a lot more quilts to make so I don't plan on dying anytime soon.

In this photo there are four quilts in the making. The quilt hanging over the back of the couch is one I was making for myself. I started this quilt last year and have nearly finished it. It's my first attempt at quilting around the shapes rather than knotting which I have previously used.

The blue material is for a quilt called 'Blue Willow Sampler Quilt'. I am collecting material for this quilt at the moment and have found some great old fashioned 'willow' looking pieces that I really love.

The pink materials in the middle are for a quilt based on a pattern called 'Ruby Medallion'. In my material stash I found a pile of material already cut into squares which will be perfect to use in this quilt.

The black and white material on the end is for another quilt. I wanted to make a quilt suitable for a man however there are not many masculine looking quilt patterns around. When I saw this material I decided to have a bit of fun with it and design my own pattern. I am using different black and white materials which all have some kind of circular pattern on them. I have then cut the material into different size of squares starting with small squares in the center and larger squares towards the outside.

This quilt is definitely not recommended for anyone who gets sea or motion sickness! I haven't decided on a name for the quilt but I think 'Dizziness is....' might be on the top of the list.

A Cowboy Cardigan & A Basket of Wool

I've just finished knitting this cardigan for Lachlan last week. I started the cardigan about 12 months ago just after Lachlan was born so it was good to finally finish it and send it up to him. It's taken so long I just hope it still fits him!

This cardigan is the only thing I have knitted for quite a few years now so it has been nice to get back into knitting again.

I now have started to knit a cardigan each for Sarah, Hannah and Olivia. The pattern I am knitting is called the 'Settler - Doll motif'. I think the patterns really cute so I hope the girls will like it as well.

At moment there's a big basket full of the wool ready to knit the girl's cardigans. My aim is to make sure it doesn't take me another 12 months to finish these ones.

I have started knitting the cardigans and have nearly finished the back on Sarah's so at least one of them is well on the way.

Charm Tumbler Quilt

I first started to collect material for this quilt in October 2000 after seeing the pattern designed by Frances Thurmer in a Patchwork and Quilting magazine. The main thing that drew me to making this quilt was that each piece of material used in it was different. I saw it as a challenge to be able to collect over 700 different pieces of material.


I collected pieces of material from friends, eBay, different shops and my own material stash. I also collected used Christmas and birthday cards so that I could cut out 'tumbler' templates. I then used the templates and tacked on a piece of material so that it would be easier to sew the pieces together.


By the middle of 2005 I finally had enough material and cards to start the quilt. I cut and tacked the material to the cards which I had cut into 'tumbler' shapes and then sewed pieces onto them. I then sewed the pieces into rows of 30 tumblers. For the quilt to fit on the top of my bed I needed 24 rows of 30 tumblers which meant I needed 744 different pieces of material.


I sewed most of this quilt in while I was in hospital with my asthma. I spent 145 days in hospital in 2006, sometimes up to six weeks at a time, so I had plenty of time to work on it. The quilt became a talking point with the staff at the hospital. Every day someone from the kitchen, a cleaner, nurse, doctor, another patient or their visitors would come in and ask how the quilt was going. I found the quilt was a great distraction from being sick and rather than people saying 'how are you feeling?' all the time they would ask 'how's the quilt going?". People even brought in their own quilts to show me their work. There were a lot of days that I was too sick to sew more than a few stitches but it didn't matter as it meant that I was a few more stitches closer to finishing the quilt.


Finishing the quilt, especially without using the same piece of material twice was a major achievement. It's completion also coincided with a decision to change doctors. For most people this is something not worth mentioning but for me this decision saved my life as apart from spending so much time in hospital I had also been intubated twice and on a Bi pap machine to help me breathe more times that I can count. My new doctors started me on some different medication for my asthma and since starting those tablets I have not had to be admitted to hospital for asthma and my lung capacity has more than doubled which is really pretty amazing.


Of everything I have ever made this is probably my favourite quilt. It alternates between being used on my bed and hanging on the wall in my dining area. Some people don't believe that every piece is really different so they try to find two pieces the same. Other people look and are surprised when they see something that hadn't seen before.

My efforts at Cake Decorating

Cake decorating must run in the family. In a high school cooking class I made and decorated my first fruit cake for Christmas.

Since then, I've tried my hand at a few other cakes and it seems that once you make one cake your suddenly the 'designated' cake decorator. I think Ruth can attest to this with her current run of requests for making and decorating cakes. Although looking at the ones she has made so far her efforts far outclass any of my cakes.

For special occasions I usually made a fruit cake (see recipe below)with the layer of almond icing and then royal icing. Some of the cakes in the photos are the ones I have made for special occasions - my mother's 60th birthday, a 21st birthday, another 60th birthday for a friend and for an engagement party.

I used to also made made cakes for other birthday's and special occasions such as farewell parties. These were mostly chocolate cakes with a cream cheese icing. Some of the cakes in the photos include a hot air balloon ride for a friend who wanted a balloon ride for their birthday, a guitar for a musician, a computer for a computer nut and three small ducks to follow behind the mother duck for a 1st birthday. Mine are the smallest ducks in the photo.

I had a lot of trouble making and decorating the little ducks so after a few failed attempts I decided to cheat - I went and brought a packet of 3 little rubber ducks. I iced and decorated them all .... they looked really good and didn't fall apart which was the best part. Unfortunately they were a little bit rubbery to eat (sorry.. couldn't help myself - I just had to put that in).

If you ever want a really tasty, easy and no fail fruit cake here's the recipe I use.

Christmas Fruit Cake

Ingredients
225g butter
225g currents
225g sultanas
125g mixed peel
125g blanched almonds
125g glace cherries
500g seeded raisins
225g soft brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon mixed spice
1 dessertspoon cinnamon
225g plain flour
6 eggs (carefully separated)
granted rind of 1 orange or lemon
2 tablespoons brandy or wine

Method
Pre-heat oven to 120°C (250°F)

Prepare dried fruit – halve cherries, chop almonds into thirds.
Place all fruit and nuts in a bowl, mix in flour so that all the fruit is coated.

Cream butter, sugar and spices.
Beat in egg yolks.

In a separate bowl, stiffly beat the egg whites.

Turn floured fruit out onto a clean bench and make a well in the middle. Add the creamed butter mix and beaten egg whites.

Use your hands and/or a plastic spatula to mix everything thoroughly but lightly together. Try to maintain the lightness of the beaten egg whites which is the raising agent in the cake. (this can also be done in a large mixing bowl but it’s important to make sure that the ingredients are folded in really gently)

Once everything is mixed together place mixture into a greased and lined 8 inch cake tin.

Bake for 3 ½ to 4 hours at 120°C– 140° C( 250°F – 275°F)

When a skewer comes out of the middle cleanly remove the cake from the oven.

Using the skewer make holes all over the top of the cake, then spoon over the brandy so that it sinks into the holes. Wrap the cake in two layers of grease proof paper and then two layers of foil prior to storing in a cool dry place. This helps keep the cake moist and fresh if it’s not being used straight away.

Sewing dresses and pajama's

When Megan & Jacinta were little I used to make a lot of clothes for them. I made dresses, pajama's & nighties, and dressing gowns. I also used to make tracksuit pants and tops for the girls and Philip.

I used to love going into the city as there was a big Pink Factory on Hoddle Street that used to sell material. It has since closed down but they would often have massive sales on their materials so I was able to pick up lots of great pieces of material for really cheap prices.

I used to enjoy sewing clothes but I was never a really good sewer and was certainly not a very neat sewer. The clothes always look okay on the outside but the seems were pretty messy. At least nothing ever fell apart while they were wearing them.

These pictures are just a few of the dresses and one of the nighties that I made for the Jacinta and Megan.

Charlie Cameron

I thought I better introduce you to the other member of my family - Charlie. Charlie is a cross between a West Highland Terrier and a Mini Schnauzer. He was only a few weeks old when he was given to me by my family and so small that he wasn't much bigger than my slippers.

Charlie has a kennel however the photo of him in the kennel was probably the only time he ever went into it. He loves going for walks and although he's not meant to he sleeps on my bed.


When I got a treadmill I decided to make one for him so that he didn't feel left out when I went walking. Charlie is pretty clever - he can shake hands, roll over, sit and stay. He even won a prize and had his photo printed in a magazine.

Every time we go for a walk we - rather I should say 'Charlie', gets stopped for a chat and a pat. He has his special friends like the man at the mobile library, the people in the newsagents and the lady in the hot bread shop. They always make him welcome taking the time to give him a pat.

Charlie has some 'doggie' cousins, there's Rex and Oscar, Harry and his newest cousin Dallas. He loves the rough and tumble with Harry but is not quite sure about Dallas yet as she's a much smaller than him and so full of energy that she runs rings around him.

Research Project - 'The Everyday Creativity of Women Craftmakers'

A few weeks ago I participated in a research project called 'The Everyday Creativity of Women Craftmakers' which is a project of the Victoria University being conducted by Marty Grace and
Enza Gandolfo.

For those who are interested the project was designed to ".. explore the role of craft making in women’s lives, its meanings, intergenerational connections and links with mental health and wellbeing. The research focuses on women’s engagement with craft making such as knitting, embroidery, crochet, and quilting. We are fascinated by the ongoing popularity of craft making, including among young women, and women from different cultures and socio-economic groups. Our own experiences and observations show that craft making, rather than being a time filler for people with little else to do, is actively pursued and prioritised by women with many competing options and demands.
While some research has been undertaken on the impact of community arts on mental health and wellbeing, and on the value of art for those recovering from mental and physical illness, there is very little research on individual women’s creativity as practised through craftwork outside of a specific therapeutic context. We contend that for at least some women craftwork provides a powerful creative outlet that contributes to their mental health and wellbeing.
For this research, we will interview women craft makers about the roles and meanings craft making has in their lives. We will interview eight to ten women of different ages and from different cultural backgrounds. Where possible, we will include women from different generations of the same family in order to explore themes of intergenerational connection. During these interviews we will explore the origin of each woman’s interest in craft making, her past and current engagement with craft, and the roles and meanings of craft making in her life.
All the interviews will be transcribed, coded and analysed according to key themes and narrative sequences. Project outcomes will include an exhibition of craft works from participants, a catalogue, and a short film. The results of the research will be reported in newsletters, print media, scholarly journals and via conference papers."

On the 15th June I was filmed walking around my unit showing the quilts and other things I have made and talking about each project. I was then interviewed and asked lots of questions about the role that quilting, knitting and other crafts have played in my life. It was really interesting thinking about why I do craft and how it's been something that has played a big role in my life, particularly when I have been sick spending weeks in hospital.

I am looking forward to seeing the results of the research and seeing the film, catalogue and exhibition of the different crafts made by the other people who took part in the project.

Lachlan's 'Happiness Is' Quilt

This quilt is called 'Happiness Is' and was designed by Dianne Johnston. The pattern was published in the Australian Patchwork & Quilting Magazine over a period of 10 months in the year 2000. I collected all the patterns in the hope that one day I would get to make the quilt. I loved the bright colors and all the different blocks. Like a few of my projects I had the pattern for quite a few years before finally starting it in 2005 and finishing it in 2006.

Every single stitch on this quilt is hand sewn, that is every piece of applique, the seams for each panel, the binding around the edges and even the centre join down the middle of the backing material. It was a lot of work but I loved sewing every single stitch and enjoyed seeing each panel as it was finished. The quilt measures 60 inches (152cm) by 76 inches (193cm) and can be used as a quilt on a single bed or hung on the wall as a wall hanging.

The biggest challenge in making the quilt was finding a surface big enough to lay the quilt out on and then fitting each of the panels in place. It took me a week to lay the quilt out and place the sashes between each panel. Once I had laid the quilt out with the sashes between each panel and basted the three layers together I then quilted the layers together by sewing a knot through the layers holding them together. It was such a good feeling to see the quilt finished especially since it had been something I had wanted to make since seeing the pattern six years before.

This quilt wasn't the first quilt I had ever made but it was my first attempt at applique and my first fully hand sewn quilt. The first quilt I ever made was for my nephew Jonathon so it seemed only fitting that this quilt be given to Jonathon's son, my great nephew Lachlan John Downs.

This is me with Lachlan in April 2008. I hope that Lachlan enjoys the quilt (even if it is all bright colors and patterns) half as much I enjoyed making it.

A few weeks ago I participated in a research project being conducted by Victoria University. Once the project has been completed this and some other quilts I have made will be shown in an exhibition of craft works along with other quilts made by the participants of the research project.

Jacob's Country Fair Quilted Wall Hanging

This is a 'Country Fair' wall hanging I made for Jacob Andrew Astle when he was born. It's made from different panels in country themes which I have sewn together. This was the first time I have ever sewed a quilting project using the sewing machine.

Jacob is now 4 years old and here he is sitting on my grandfather's chair holding a cushion that matches his quilt hanging.





The chair Jacob is sitting on is one of two old chairs that used to sit on the front porch at Grandpa and Grandma Sargent's house when they lived in Templeton Street, Wangaratta.

Tapestry - 'The Pioneer' by Frederick McCubbin

This is a tapestry of the famous painting called the Pioneer by Frederick McCubbin. It was painted oil on canvas in 1904 and is the first of a series of three paintings.

I started this tapestry of the Pioneer in 1990 while living in Currawa Drive, Boronia and finished it 11 years later in December 2001, just before I moved from Sunbury to Bayswater. It moved house with me about 9 times before it was finally finished. the day I finished it I decided that it might have taken 11 years to complete but it wasn't going to take that long to have it framed so just after I moved into my unit I had it framed.

When I started this tapestry I had great plans of completing all three tapestries in the set. With it taking 11 years to complete just one the others have little or no chance of ever being started!

I could say the reason it took so long to complete the tapestry is that it is so big, measuring 19 inches by 14 inches, but the reality is that I found it such a daunting project having to match all the colors that it spent a lot of the 11 years in a basket waiting to be picked up.

So while it took 11 years to complete it only took 2 months to have it framed. It's now hanging on my wall where I can enjoy the scene and remember all the work that went into it.

My Big Brown Bear

I can't remember ever having a bear as a child. I had lots of dolls -some big and most small but my favourite doll was meant to drink or cry but it didn't have the batteries - just a hole in it's back. I loved my dolls and loved dressing them up and taking them for walks. One day my father brought home a pram. It was old and rickety but I thought it was great as I used to dream of having a pram for my dolls. I didn't find out until years later that dad had got the pram from the local tip so that he could use the wheels on a billy cart and that I missed out on getting a brand new pram which was on lay by for Christmas that year.


Dolls weren't the only things that I used to love dressing up and taking for walks. I used to dress up my cats and take them for walks in the pram up the drive way. That is, until one day I was seen pushing my pram by a girl from school. Mindyou, I was 11 at the time and probaly a bit too old to be playing with prams even for those days! Thankfully for me, the girl didn't see that I had a cat dressed up in the pram. From that day on I stopped taking my dolls and cats for walks.



Anyway, back to the bear. As I didn't have a bear growing up I decided to make myself a big brown bear. He has a wonky ear and a funny shaped face but he is MY Big Brown bear and I really like him.

Clowns and Bears

I've tried lots of different projects over the years. At one stage in the early 1990's I used to make clowns which sat on a ring and hung from the ceiling. I sold the clowns at few markets and used to get a lot of orders for particular colors.

Sometimes when I had a stall at the Upwey market, Megan, Jacinta and mum would come and help.

A few years later I also started making teddy bears from material. I used to give the bears away and also sold a lot to people who placed orders. The bears were very popular with the young girls and sometimes I would have four or five little girls come stay overnight and spend the day making bears.


I still have the pattern and a bear cut out for myself so maybe one day I'll get around to making it.

School projects - Bracelet, Leather belt & Doily

Craft was one of my favourite subjects at school. It's no wonder I used to enjoy it so much when I look back at some of the things we made. The same year I made the penguin I also made this blue enamel bracelet.

Another year I made this leather belt using leather making tools to decorate it with this pattern. The belt measures 43 inches (110cm) and I remember it took a long time cutting the pattern into the leather.

When I was 15 and living in Costerfield I made this cross stitch doily at school. My teacher suggested that I should enter it into a show so we entered it into the local show at Heathcote. I won equal First place which was pretty exciting.

Some of the other things I remember making include a Kimono style bath robe and a latch hook cushion.